Anti-Islam film sparks second day of protests in Chennai

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Chennai is dealing with a second day of protests against the United States over a film that Muslims say insults the Prophet Mohammad, following an attack on the U.S. consulate on Friday that prompted 86 arrests.

Close to 2,000 people mobilised by the Islamist group Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath reportedly gathered outside the Thousand Lights Mosque. That is less than a kilometre from the U.S. consulate, where protestors smashed windows on Friday.

“Avoid Mount Road stretch and Radhakrishnan Salai near US consulate,” wrote Hindu Business Line journalist Dinakaran Rengachary on Twitter on Saturday. “Heavy traffic jam due to protest by Muslim organisations. #Chennai”

“Chennai police better prepared today! Stopped a crowd of 2000 a few metres away from the consulate! 2nd day of protest,” wrote Meenakshi Mahadevan, a CNN-IBN journalist in Chennai. “Close to 4k ppl near US consulate today! US flag burning, effigy burning, sloganeering et al happened! But in the end all under control.”

On Friday, about 1,500 protestors organised by Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), another group, gathered in front of the U.S. consulate and threw stones and footwear at the building. The protestors also burned the American flag and pictures of President Barack Obama.

“The inquiry counter, police booth, CCTV cameras outside the campus and window panes, (and) glass paintings inside the campus were damaged in the attack, and about 25 people suffered minor injuries,” said a duty officer who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak for the Chennai police force.

“The protestors were charged following attempts to scale the consulate walls and break through barricades,” the officer said. About 700 people were detained temporarily to control the protests and later released.

“Security for the U.S. mission has been stepped up across the city,” said Police Commissioner J.K. Tripathy.

The consulate staff vacated the building premises following alerts issued by intelligence agencies. Similar protests and the burning of American flags were reported in other districts including Ooty, Erode, Tiruchy in Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. A state appointed Muslim cleric in Kashmir warned Americans to leave the area after 15,000 people protested.

The U.S. consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad meanwhile issued a security message early on Friday warning its citizens of possible anti-American demonstrations in the state. Embassy officials declined to speak on the record.

“The director and all sympathisers of the movie need to be brought (prosecuted) under the international justice system and death penalty should be awarded for spoiling world peace,” said Mudasir, a TMMK activist from Azad Nagar. When asked, Mudasir said that he had not watched the movie or its scenes circulating on the internet. “I cannot bear to watch it,” he said.

The TMMK wants Muslims around the world to boycott American products, said its president J.S. Ribayee, in a statement. “This will severely affect that country’s economy which is already in bad shape.”

these people are so hate-filled they murder and rape their own daily – what would make any logical thinking person believe they would embrace American values especially freedom of speech or freedom of religion no matter the volume of free handouts, humanitarian assistance, or democratic guidance, much less be grateful for the sacrifices Americans have personally made to assist them? it simply will not happen!

There is no freedom without freedom of speech. There is no democracy. Tolerance has to be taught, even when those speak against your religion, your country, your cherished beliefs. Otherwise, it is just gang fighting gang, ideology against ideology, etc. It is easy to inflame a mob, but harder to reason with them. If the world is to get along, we must accept others right to express themselves without violence.

As I realize that freedom of speech is very important to our nation, we as a nation should not tolerate a film that is only created to spark war.
Most of you think this film is about religion and mocking a nation’s prophet of whom, is as valued as Jesus is to our nation.
IT IS NOT. it is simply a game that is played out by the rich and powerful,to PROVOKE WAR, HIGHER OIL PRICES, and of course, the NEVER ENDING NEED FOR WEAPONS AND DEATH.
Until every nation realizes they are just game pieces on a chess board to make those who promote war and prophet from oil,rich, peace will never come.
It is time EVERY NATION stands up and says no more to being a pawn for the rich predators that feed off of hatred.

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Gokul Chandrasekar is a producer on the Reuters.com desk and reports from Bangalore, India. He has written about the environment, climate change, public health, education and development, with a focus on southern India.